Workout equipment

ABSTRACT

Exercise machines for the leg muscles using separate machines for the biceps femoris and quadriceps and with the biceps femoris machines configured so that the muscle attachment below the knee is the “origin” and muscle attachment of the upper leg and hip bone is the “insertion”.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/211,553, filed Aug. 5, 2002.

The present invention relates in general to workout or exerciseequipment, and in particular to such equipment which can be used forprimarily exercising the leg mussels.

The need for physical exercise and conditioning is well know, especiallyin a culture where physical exertion is not emphasized as it once mayhave bee, and where the demand on athletes of al ages to compete at ahigh level is on the rise. An entire industry has developed for thepurpose of affording people the opportunity to exercise so as tomaintain health, appearance, and competitiveness. Gyms can be found inalmost every city and town in the country. All of them have a variety ofmachine which one can use in their workouts. Some are quire complicated,and some are designed for special muscle groups. To understand thepresent invention better, a general review of the muscles of the humanbody should help.

All of the muscles on the exterior of the human body involved a musclebelly with a tendon on each end attaching each end to a respective bone.As the muscles flex and extend, they operate the bones as levers. Thetendon that attaches one end of a muscle to a bone and remains fixedduring flexion is termed the “origin” of the muscle and the tendon thatattaches the other end of the muscle to a second bone and moves thatbone during flexion is termed the “insertion” of the muscle.

The most common and easily recognized example of these relationships isthe biceps brachii, located on the upper arm and attached at two pointsat the upper arm and scapula and a single lower point on the lower armslightly past the elbow. The most common exercise for the biceps brachiiis the barbell curl (which can be achieved by a dead weight or amachine). A barbell (dead weight) is lifted off the floor with both armsextended and with the body fully vertical, the barbell is curled to aposition below the chin as the elbows are held at the sides of the body.The “origin” of the biceps brachii in this exercise si the two-pointupper attachment (fixed) while the “insertion” is the lower attachmentthat moves the lower arm in a pivotal motion from full extension to fullflexion to the position below the chin.

Another common exercise for the biceps brachii is the chinning exercise.The arms grasp an overhead bar and the body is pulled up until the chinis positioned over the bar at full flexion. In this exercise, the:“origin” and “insertion” are the reverse of the barbell curl exercise.The attachment to the lower arm is the “origin” (fixed) while thetwo-point attachment at the upper arm and scapula becomes the“insertion” and performs the movement of the entire body to the positionwhere the chin is positioned over the bar.

By changing the position of muscle flexion based upon the “origin” and“insertion” of a muscle, the belly of the muscle becomes more developedand adaptable in strength and coordination.

There has been consideration development in the past fifty years ofexercise machines using various body supports with pulleys and weightsto position a user to isolate and exercise specific muscles in amultitude of varying positions.

The present invention is directed to a novel group of workout equipmentand to a method to exercise the upper leg muscles, the biceps femoris,commonly referred to as the hamstrings, and also to the quadriceps. Thebiceps femoris is an upper leg muscle somewhat analogous to the bicepsbrachii on the upper arm. In a similar manner, the biceps femoris isattached between two points at the upper leg bone and hip bone and asingle lower point on the lower leg slightly past the knee.

There are several exercise machines that are well known in which theattachment of the upper leg bone and hi bone attachment is the “origin”and the lower leg bone attachment is the “insertion”. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,499,962, discloses a sitting position in which the knees arefixed in front and the heels are imposed on a padded roller on a leverthat raises a stack of weights as the biceps femoris is flexed to bringthe heels close to the buttocks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,077, discloses abench on which the user lies on his stomach with the knees fixed infront the heels, again, imposed on a padded roller on a lever thatraises a stack of weights as the biceps femoris is flexed to bring theheels close to the buttocks.

Additional examples of machines of this type are the following U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,468,026; 4,725,056; 5,5058,884;5,094,450; 5,158,520; 5,334,120;5,569,133; 5,628,714; 5,634,873; 5,711,749; 5,766,118; 6,059,698;6,059,701; 6,106,444; 6,296,594; and 6,231,486.

None of the known equipment is specifically directed to exercising theupper leg muscles, such as the biceps femoris, and the quadriceps, andto do so in an efficient manner.

In view of the present state of the art, ti would desirable to haveequipment available for use in specifically exercising the upper legmuscles, such as the biceps femoris and the provide a technique whichone can utilize in using this equipment for efficiently exercising theupper leg muscles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide equipment and atechnique for specifically exercising the upper leg muscles, such as thebiceps femoris. The equipment and technique according to the presentinvention reverses the origin” and “insertion” of the biceps femoris,for example, by fixing the position of the heel to stabilized the lowerleg and have the upper leg bone pull the entire upper body to bring thebuttocks close to the heel. This results in the biceps femorisattachment to the lower leg bone being the “origin” and the attachmentat the upper leg bone and hip bone being the “insertion”.

The muscles of the leg are extremely strong with power lifters havingsquatted with over 1000 pounds on the shoulders. However, the mainmuscle mass performing the squat is the quadriceps muscle on the frontof the thigh bone. The biceps femoris on the rear of the thigh bone actsmainly as a stabilizing muscle during heavy squatting.

It is further object of the present invention to employ in the techniqueuse of the part of the upper body weight as the resistance that thebiceps femoris muscle moves from full extension to full flexion. This isaccomplished by using levers and weights to support part of the upperbody weight during movement from full extension to full flexion.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide anexercise machine for the quadriceps muscle on the front of the legs.This machine will enable an elder person or a person beginning anexercise program or a person recovering from a leg injury to perform thesquat exercise. It consists of a cable with a stack of weights combinedwith a pivotable seat on which the user can sit while squatting to aparallel position with the weight stack offsetting a portion of theuser's body weight.

The following figures have been selected to illustrate the presentinvention in its various aspects.

FIG. 1 is the most simple apparatus for exercising the hamstrings withthe muscle attachment below the knees functioning as the “origin”.

FIG. 2 is a second apparatus for exercising the hamstrings with themuscle attachment below the knees functioning as the “origin” using apivotable lever with a varying moment arm.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a third apparatus for exercising the hamstrings with themuscle attachment below the knees functioning as the “origin” using apivotable lever attached to a cable to raise and lower a stack ofselected weights.

FIG. 5 is an apparatus for exercising the quadriceps muscles with a bodyweight offsetting seat that slides up and down on vertical rods.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a stand along apparatus which be used withweights.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating an alternate embodiment of theinvention.

In FIG. 1, a hamstring exercise using the muscle attachment of thebiceps femoris below the knees as the “origin” can be performed with aminimum of equipment in a person's home. This exercise requires a door1, and the equipment includes a knee pad 2, a set of anchor boots 3 withtips to slide under the door, and elastic band 4 with a door clamp 5 anda body harness 6 with a hook 7 for attachment to the elastic band. 4.

The harness 6 has as a minimum a torso strap 6 a and two shoulder straps6 b and 6 xc. The shoulder straps 6 b and 6 c are connected to the torsostrap 6 a in an overlap fashion or separate from each other. The torsostrap 6 a can be worn at the waist of the user or above. The twoshoulder straps 6 b and 6 c and the torso strap 6 a can each be providedwith an adjustment capability, such as would result from the use of atypical buckle arrangement. The hook 7 is attached, preferably, to thetorso strap 6 a on the back of the harness.

The user attaches the elastic band 4 to the top of the door 1, byengaging the clamp 5 with the top of the door 1, and to the back of theharness 6, with any conventional clamp-type device, and kneels on theknee pad 2 with the tips of the anchor boots 3 inserted under the doorin the position shown. The user then leans forward toward a horizontalposition (full extension of the biceps femoris) and, from that position,returns his or her body to the original position by flexing the bicepsfemoris. The strain on the biceps femoris is reduced by the elastic band4 assisting the hamstrings.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the hamstring exercise apparatus comprises a strandalong support base with a lever. A generally L:=shaped base 8 provides araised padded knee pad 9, and on substantially the same plane, a pivot10. The rear of the knee pad has a raised padded roller 11 under which auser can place their ankles. A lever 12 is attached to the pivot and hasan upper padded area 13 that can contact a user's chest along with ahandle bar 14 on each side. The lever 12 has a lower rear extendingportion 12 a on which different size weights 156 can be placed onhorizontally extending pins 17. An upper portion 12 b is adjustable inheight, preferably telescopically, relative to the lower rear extendingportion 12 a, and is fastened in place once adjusted by a fasteningmeans, preferably a set screw or locking pin and slow arrangement 15.

The user adjusts the chest pad 13 to a desired position and kneels onthe pad 89 with his ankles secured under the roller 11, which can besingle roller or spaced rollers, one for each ankle, and leans forwardtoward a horizontal position (full extension of the biceps femoris) and,from the at position, returns his body to the original position byflexing the biceps femoris. The strain on the biceps femoris is reducedby the weights on the lever.

In FIG. 4, the hamstring exercise apparatus comprises a stand alongsupport base 18 with a lever and cable attached to a weight stack. Thesupport base 18 has a raised portion 19 attached to one end with apadded knee pad 20 and a raised padded roller 21 on the rear portion ofthe knee pad 20. The roller 21 can be similarly configured to roller 11.The opposite end of the support base 18 has a raised framework 22 withdescending guide rods 23 that contains selectorized weight stack of flatplates 24. A cable 25 is attached to the top of the weigh stack over twopulleys 26 and 27 at the top of the framework and down to a pulley 28 atthe base of the framework. Extending out from the framework 22 on thesame level of the knee pad is a horizontal support 289 for a pivot 30.The pivot supports a lever 31 comprising an upper adjustable portion 31a that has an upper padded area that can contact a user's chest alongwith a handle bar 33 on each side. The lower potion 31 b of the lever onthe other side of the pivot has a curved portion 34 of varying radiuswith an attachment to the cable 25 as it extends horizontally frompulley 28.

The upper portion 31 a is adjustable in height similarly to the upperportion 12 b and is fastened by a set screw or pin and slow arrangement35, which is similar to the screw or pin and slow arrangement.

The user adjusts the chest pad 32 to a desired position and kneels onthe pad 20 with his or her ankles secured under the roller 21 and leansforward toward a horizontal position (full extension of the bicepsfemoris) and, from the position, returns his or her body to the originalposition by flexing the biceps femoris. The strain on the biceps femorisis reduced by the weights supported on the cable.

FIG. 5 is an exercise apparatus for the front thigh muscles, thequadriceps (or quads), and comprises a stand along 4support based 36with sliding pivotable seat and cable attached to a weight stack. Thesupport base 36 has an upper horizontal and raised framework 37supported on two cylindrical vertical bars 38. Descending from the upperframework 37 is a vertical plate 39 positioned between the vertical barsand attached to each vertical bar. A horizontal support 40 with circularholes is slidably mounted on the two cylindrical bars 38 with apivotable padded seat 41 extending away from the base. The upperframework 37 on the vertical bars 38 has a cantilevered portioncontaining two pulleys 42 and 43 with a cable 44 attached to the top ofselectorized weight stack 45 on guide rods 46. Vertical plate 39contains holes 47 and a surrounding slide 47 with a sling hole with apin 49 in the hole positioning the slide with respect to one of thevertical plate holes. The slide has a bar 50 on each side extending toan area adjacent and above the padded seat 41. The horizontal support 40has an attachment point 51 directly below pulley 43 with the cable 44attached thereto.

The user positions a stopper 52 on the vertical bar 38 so that the userdoes not go below a point at which the thighs are parallel to the floor.With the weight selected on the weight stack 45, the user backs upbetween and grasps the bars 50 with his buttocks contacting padded seat41 with the legs fully extended. From this position, the user can slowlysquat to the horizontal position, pause, and return to the legs fullyextended position. This squat exercise can be performed with one or twolegs, depending on the amount of weight selected on weight stack 45 toassist and offset the user's body weight.

The four apparatuses described above are very beneficial inrehabilitating and developing the hamstring and quad muscles of the legsof users who have not developed their muscles to a great degree. Thebiceps femoris muscle is exercised in a novel way by reversing thelocations to the “origin” and “insertion” of the biceps femoris musclethat is not available in currently known machines.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b illustrate a stand along apparatus 53 intended to beused without weights.

The stand along apparatus has a base structure 54 to which a pad 55 isattached by an conventional manner. At one end of the base structure 54there extends a post 56 to which a slidable cushion 57 is mounted. Thepost 56 includes a plurality of spaced holes 58 for accommodating a pin59 inserted therein for user in retaining the cushion 57 fixed onto thepost 56. For this purpose a pin 59 would be inserted in the hole aboveand below the cushion 57. At its front end the base structure 55 has anopening 60 in which a balance bean 61 is slidable relative to the basestructure 54.

In use, an individual kneels as show in FIG. 6 b on the pad 55 withtheir ankles 62 engaging the cushion 57. The balance bean 61 has beenwithdrawn from the base structure 54 a sufficient extent to produce thereaction force R. The reaction force R differs depending on itsextension from the base structure 54. The individual so positionsextends forwardly in the direction M₁. This movement creates the actionfor A due to the engagement of the ankles 52 with the cushion 57, andalso the reaction force $ due to the engagement of the balance beam 61with the floor. The forces A-R creates a moment which counter-acts themoment created by the individuals body weight as the upper body moves inthe direction M₁.

FIG. 7 illustrates the exercise machine of FIG. 2 with member 64 affixedthereto. Pin 66 supports weight 68 on member 64. Member 64 can includemultiple spaced apart pins 66 to support a plurality of weights.

Having described my invention and the presently preferred embodimentsthereof in such terms to enable one of ordinary skill in the art topractice the invention,

1. Workout equipment for exercising the leg muscles, comprising asupport base; a lever pivotably connected to said support base, saidlever having a plurality of spaced apart weight support rods connectedat one end and a chest engagement means and handles at the other end;and said support base includes a knee pad and means for mounting saidankle engaging means.